INDUSTRY NEWS
Novelis announces US $ 375m expansion
Novelis Inc ., a leader in aluminium rolling and recycling , has announced a US $ 375 million investment to expand rolling and recycling capabilities at its Zhenjiang plant in China . The investment will fully integrate the company ’ s automotive business to supply automakers in Asia with Novelis ’ low-carbon , sustainable aluminium .
The expansion includes upgrades to the existing hot mill , a new cold mill and a new recycling and casting centre , which will allow the company to implement closedloop recycling partnerships with automotive customers in Asia . Recycling aluminium uses 95 % less energy than primary aluminium production and is a key component of Novelis ’ sustainability commitment to reduce carbon emissions ( 30 % by 2026 with the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 ).
“ The Zhenjiang expansion reaffirms our financial strength and commitment to reinvesting for growth while also advancing our business towards the circular economy ,” said Steve Fisher , President and CEO of Novelis , Inc . “ With this investment , we will further solidify our standing as the leading provider of automotive aluminium sheet in Asia . We will also be better positioned to support the rapidly
Novelis unveiled its strongest automotive aluminium product to date , Novelis Advanz™ 7UHS-s701 , in February 2021 .
growing electric vehicle market and its need for lightweight , low-carbon aluminium .”
Novelis expects to break ground on the expansion in early 2022 and complete the project in mid-2024 . As a key strategic synergy of the Aleris acquisition completed last year , the investment will create a fully integrated supply chain for the automotive market in China between ita Zhenjiang rolling and recycling facility and Changzhou automotive finishing plant – from coil production to heat treatment to closed-loop recycling . It will also free rolling capacity at the company ’ s Ulsan
Aluminium joint venture in South Korea to serve the can and specialty products markets . The Zhenjiang plant will continue serving the aerospace and industrial plate sectors .
“ China is one of the fastest-growing vehicle markets in the world and its automakers are gaining market share across Asia ,” said Sachin Satpute , Executive Vice President and President of Novelis Asia . “ Therefore , this strategic investment is needed to keep pace with growing demand , particularly from EV companies . Most importantly , the creation of the country ’ s first automotive closed-loop recycling system advances our purpose of ‘ Shaping a Sustainable World Together ’ while aligning with China ’ s ambitious carbon reduction goals .”
Novelis is the world ’ s largest supplier of automotive aluminium sheet with more than 40 years of experience . During the past three years , the company has increased its global automotive capacity by 250 %. n
. novelis . com
France flexes muscles
Global Industrie 2021 in Lyon , France .
Global Industrie successfully kicked off the post-holiday period in industry as a true moment of reunion . The first industrial event in France after the summer break , the Global Industrie exhibition took place in Lyon from 6-9 September 2021 .
The exhibition hosted a meeting of the Conseil National de l ’ Industrie , a key political event attended by the French Prime Minister Jean Castex and the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy , Finance and Recovery , in charge of Industry , Agnès Pannier-Runacher . The presence of numerous regional and local elected representatives , including Laurent Wauquiez , President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region , and Bruno Bonnell , Deputy for the Rhône region ( among others ) highlighted the exhibition as an important point of contact between local government and national industrial policy .
“ Contributing to the post-Covid recovery and reindustrialisation was one of the ambitions of this edition of Global Industrie . Happy to meet up again , all exhibitors were at last able to re-establish contacts and get started on the future with better visibility . Although uncertainties remain , such as supplies of raw materials , feedback is encouraging and demonstrates a willingness to invest in new production equipment or new solutions which will allow companies to be more competitive . As proof of this , France has this year broken the record for new factory projects with 192 installation projects recorded in the first half of 2021 , up by 84 % compared to 2020 !” commented the show organiser , GL Events .
Global Industrie brought together 1500 exhibitors in 15 different sectors . This year a topical theme , the ecological transition , was highlighted with a specialised offer , a GI Green Solutions area offering solutions for industrial production and services , a dedicated pathway , conferences and a trophy . The Global Industrie Awards rewarded seven companies for their innovations . In addition , Florence Robin , co-founder and President of LIMATECH , received the Special Award for Women in Industry ( organised in partnership with Alliancy magazine ).
“ Another major challenge is employment and jobs in industry , which the exhibition rallied to promote once again with GI Avenir which designed to support companies in their search for human resources . No less than 272 job offers were presented and 211 CVs
were displayed . In addition , 36 companies took part in Job Dating sessions organised over three days ,” added the show organiser .
Global Industrie this year took place in hybrid mode , with physical and digital versions . With live broadcasts of key moments ; conference streaming ; feedback ; first-hand accounts but also business meetings ( with over 500 meetings scheduled during the exhibition ), Global Industrie offered visitors and exhibitors multiple channels enabling them to do business and better highlight their activity and their sector . There were almost 40,000 views , including 21,000 connections during the exhibition ,” it added .
The fourth edition of Global Industrie Paris will take place from 17-20 May 2022 at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre .
Downloads of Global Industrie meetings are available at global-industrie . com / fr n
12 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR November 2021